April 29, 1999

Experts from the OSCE, European Union and Council of Europe arrived in Slovakia to review progress of the minority language bill of which a draft was scheduled to have been ready by the end of April [see reports of April 20]. OCSE High Commissioner on National Minorities Max van der Stoel also arrived unannounced after having received Deputy Prime Minister in charge of legislation Lubomír Fogas's version of the bill. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of minorities and regional development Pál Csáky stated that van der Stoel's unexpected appearance implies that drafting of the bill is not progressing smoothly. The high commissioner insisted that the bill be completed promptly. Principles contained in the bill have not yet been made public. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 27, 1999; Fórum Institute (Galanta/Galánta) Apr. 30, 1999]

At a press conference, Hungarian Coalition Party Vice President László Gyurovszky expressed the party's continued support for NATO endeavors, including the opening of Slovak airspace and ground transport of soldiers through Slovakia. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 29, 1999]

The Lucenec/Losonc District Office has developed a plan to combat unemployment, which stands at 42 percent in the town of Filakovo/Fülek and 27.6 percent across the district, said Deputy Head Péter Csúsz. Several neighboring counties, including Nógrád county in Hungary, formed the Vág-Duna-Ipoly Euro Region and signed a declaration of intent. The participating counties plan to sign a final agreement on June 3 and will request European Union support. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 27 and 29, 1999]

April 28, 1999

The Parliamentary Education Committee appointed members of a committee which will make the final corrections to additions to the Education Law next month. Members of this committee will include the board of rectors, the Education Ministry and representatives from colleges and scientific academy councils. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 29, 1999]

Rumanian Foreign Minister Andrei Gabriel Plescu met with his counterpart, Eduard Kukan, in Bratislava/Pozsony, both officials deeming it a positive step that minorities had found a role in their respective governments. The ministers agreed that the political inclusion of minorities is the only acceptable way to resolve minority issues. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 28, 1999]

April 27, 1999

A second roundtable discussion on Roma issues was held, chaired by special rapporteur for Roma Affairs Vincent Danihel. Representatives of Roma organizations were present as well as government officials, including Deputy Prime Minister in charge of minorities and regional development Pál Csáky, Chairman of the Parliamentary Human Rights Committee László Á. Nagy, and British Ambassador David Lyscom. Problems such as unemployment, housing shortages, Roma relations with the Slovak majority, and deficiencies in education and cultural areas were among the issues explored. A project is currently underway to develop inter-ethnic relations. The government must come forth with a plan on resolving Roma issues by June. [See reports of February 11, 1999 and December 15, 1998] [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 27, 1999]

April 26, 1999

Hungarian Coalition Party Member of Parliament Árpád Duka Zólyomi became the first ethnic Hungarian to gain permanent membership in country's delegation to the Council of Europe which held it's latest parliamentary assembly session in Strasbourg April 26-30. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), May 4, 1999]

April 23, 1999

Foreign Minister Eduard Kukan said that the government will stand by its original position, part of a government program signed by the four coalition parties, not to initiate discussions on the question of the Benes decrees in the upcoming three-and-a-half years. Kukan said further "If the EU wants to deal with it, we will naturally not oppose it." However, Kukan added, "the Benes Decrees were born at a time when it was necessary to issue such provisions. You can't change what has already happened, and that's the way history is." Historian Emanuel Mandler told the Czech newspaper Lidove Noviny that the decrees should be rescinded: "They were racist, – anti-German and anti-Hungarian – and it is outrageous that their validity has been reinforced several times in the past few years." [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 23, 1999]

April 22, 1999

Josef Pfüringer, governor of the province of upper Austria, asked the Vice president of the Slovak Parliament, Pavol Hrusovsky, to rescind the Benes Decrees, saying that the Carpathian Germans who lived on the territory of Slovakia after World War II were also victims of this silent violation of rights and, consequently, both the Czech Republic and Slovakia should rescind the decree [see report of April 15]. Hrusovsky said that Slovakia will not take any steps on the matter without the cooperative efforts of the Czech Republic. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 22, 1999]

April 21, 1999

In move contrary to prevailing tendencies, a Hungarian-language elementary school will be re-opened in Mytne Ludany/Vámosladány in Levice/Leva County for the coming school year. The school's Hungarian-language class had been closed in 1985. Seven years later, the mayor of the village began restoration of an old church school building, which is scheduled for completion by this September. Seven children have enrolled in grades 3 and 4. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 21, 1999]

April 20, 1999

Concluding his two-day visit to Bratislava, European Union High Commissioner Hans van den Broek said that the political climate has totally changed in the country. The high commissioner placed strong emphasis on the adoption of a minority language bill — a preliminary condition for Slovakia’s EU membership. As a result of van den Broek’s visit, the bill’s preparation accelerated, with Deputy Prime Minister in charge of legislation Lubomír Fogas stating that the government’s draft will be completed by April so that Parliament can adopt it by the end of June. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 21, 1999; Fórum Institute (Galanta/Galánta) Apr. 20, 1999]

Despite the fact that the Hungarian Coalition Party had drafted a minority language bill in January, government’s experts decided to prepare another draft facilitated by Deputy Prime Minister in charge of legislation Lubomír Fogas, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of integration Pavol Hamzík and Deputy Prime Minister in charge of minorities and regional development Pál Csáky. Adoption of a minority language law is one of the prime political conditions for Slovakia's EU membership. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 21, 1999]

Deputy Prime Minister in charge of minorities and regional development Pál Csáky introduced two PHARE-sponsored programs at a total cost of 2,5 million EURO. The regional program focusing on the improvement of conditions for Roma in Spisská Nová Ves/Igló District includes the construction of apartments, creation of employment opportunities and the improvement of Roma cultural and educational levels. The nationwide program aims at (1) preparing human rights workshops, Roma history courses and cultural-psychological training for mayors and local representatives from communities with sizeable Roma populations; (2) conducting a media campaign to increase familiarity with the Roma minority; (3) encouraging minority-language university and college departments and their faculty. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 21, 1999]

April 19, 1999

In an interview to Új Szó, ethnic Hungarian head of the Galanta/Galánta District Education Department László Bíró launched support for transferring centralized authority over schools to local administrations. It would grant greater power to the district’s 50 schools — among them 10 Hungarian-language ones — to determine how they spend their funds. Only four schools in the district are fully autonomous, two of which are Hungarian-language institutions. In an attempt to further decentralize education, Bíró emphasized the importance of restoring school boards and allowing them to appoint and dismiss principals. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 14, 1999]

The municipalities of Nagov and Rokytovce communities in eastern Slovakia voided a discriminatory measure, adopted two years ago, that banned Roma from entering these villages. The move was prompted by Pál Csáky, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of minorities and regional development and László Á. Nagy, Chairman of the Parliament’s Human Rights Committee. [Fórum Institute (Galanta/Galánta), Apr. 19, 1999]

April 16, 1999

The Jókai Theater in Komarno/Komárom will receive a 9-million crown subsidy, while the Museum on the Danube will receive 3.9 million crowns, according to Iván Gondkó, head of the cultural department at the Nitra/Nyitra District Office. Nineteen cultural institutions have regained their legal status and fall under the aegis of this office, which holds 68 million crowns to be distributed to cultural institutions. Of this sum, 28.8 million crowns will be allocated for the support of minority cultures. Funds will be appropriated based on the percentage of minority inhabitants in a community's population. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 16, 1999]

April 15, 1999

In the compactly Hungarian-inhabited county of Dunajská Streda/Dunaszerdahely, unemployment in the first quarter of the year rose by nearly one percent, from 16.38 percent to 17.1 percent, compared to the first quarter of 1998. The increase is largely attributed to the recent bankruptcy of several industries. The unemployment rate exceeded 20 percent in the first quarter in 13 communities. In the town of Celovo/Nagymegyer unemployment reached 41 percent. In 1996, 120 million crowns were appropriated for job creation and 75 million for unemployment benefits in Dunajská Streda. However, by 1998 this proportion had changed drastically: Last year, only 44 million crowns was appropriated for job creation and 117 million for unemployment benefits. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 15, 1999]

Former head of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS) Ivan Lexa was taken into detention, on suspicion of masterminding the 1995 kidnapping of former President Michal Kovac’s son. The move happened one day before a high-ranking former SIS employee, Jaroslav Svechota, admitted to participating in the planning and cover-up of the plot. [Fórum Institute (Galanta/Galánta) Apr. 15, 1999]

The European Parliament adopted a resolution calling on the Czech Republic to rescind the so-called Benes Decrees — laws from 1945-46 that deprived ethnic minorities of their citizenship, appropriated their assets and properties and resulted in the expulsion and forced deportation of large numbers. The laws gravely affected the ethnic Hungarian and German communities living on the territory of former Czechoslovakia. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 21, 1999]

April 14, 1999

A contract signed by the Ministry of Culture apportioned a 96 million Slovak Crowns state subsidy to the nationalist organization Matica Slovenská, which currently has 557 employees, but mandated distribution of funds among the Slovak National Library (43 million), the Museum of National Culture and the History Institute (21 million) and 18 so-called Matica Houses (32 million). In a concealed effort to subvert minority cultures, the organization’s leadership, headed by President Jozef Markus, decided to suspend activities in northern Slovakia and enhance its network in southern Slovakia, home of the 560,000-strong ethnic Hungarian community. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 15, 1999]

A public opinion survey by the Nazory Agency indicated that 63 percent of Hungarians in Slovakia support joining NATO. The same figure for native Slovak speakers was 36 percent. Highest support was found in the 25-29-age bracket, 48 percent of whom favor accession to NATO. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 14, 1999]

April 12, 1999

The group Roma Intellectuals for Cooperation (RIS) criticized the government for its failure to comply with the agreement made between RIS and the Slovak Democratic Coalition, the largest party in the coalition, to resolve, among others, the exodus of Roma from the country. RIS Deputy Chairman Tibor Loran said he intended to inform foreign dignitaries from U.S., Canada and EU at their meeting on May 5. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 12, 1999]

April 9, 1999

Parliament voted for the lifting of Ivan Lexa's parliamentary immunity, the former head of the Slovak Intelligence Service (SIS). The move paves the way for his indictment on charges of plotting the 1995 kidnapping of former President Michal Kovac’s son. [Fórum Institute (Galanta/Galánta) Apr. 9, 1999]

April 8, 1999

In summarizing to the press the Hungarian Coalition Party’s major achievements joining the government last October, Deputy Prime Minister for minorities and regional development Pál Csáky enumerated the following (1) establishment of an independent Hungarian department at Slovak public television beginning April, (2) establishment of a Minority Department in the Education Ministry employing five representatives from the Ukrainian, Roma and German minorities each and another five from the Hungarian minority, (3) restoration of legal status for minority theaters, allowing for their budgetary and decision-making independence, and the right to appoint their directors. Education State Secretary László Szigeti added to the list state subsidies for Hungarian-language educational periodicals and the Ministry's recognition of the Skabela-Bóna alternative language instruction method. In an effort to further decentralize, the state secretary set forth restoration of school boards that would be empowered to appoint and dismiss school principals. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 9, 1999]

In Dunajská Streda/Dunaszerdahely, a four-year Hungarian-language economics and commerce academic program will begin under the auspices of the Budapest-based Modern Business College in Fall 1999. Director Dr. József Kandikó said that negotiations are underway for the recognition of its diploma in EU member states as well. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 8, 1999]

April 7, 1999

The Hungarian-language primary school in Tornala/Tornalja faces major difficulties due to the lack of classrooms exacerbated by the enrollment of more than 1,000 students for the 99/00 school year. Anna Szögedi, principal of the school, said that negotiations with Revúca/Nagyrôce District officials resulted in a contract last March that provided the school with classrooms in the building of a former women's dormitory. Soon afterwards, the official standpoint changed and a local auxiliary school was allowed instead to occupy the building, leaving the primary school in limbo. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 7, 1999]

April 6, 1999

Since the nationalist organization Matica Slovenská exercises supervision over the Slovak National Library in Martin/Turócszentmárton, for example, by having the right to appoint its director, it objected to share the library’s authority with the University Library in Bratislava. The organization has thereby hindered an effort to merge the two libraries and create an independent institution to be moved to the capital. Alojz Androvic, Director of the Center for International and Information Relations at the University Library, recommended that a new law be prepared on Matica Slovenská. The previous Vladimír Meciar-led government granted the organization disproportionate influence in maintaining cultural life in Slovakia. [Új Szó (Bratislava/Pozsony), Apr. 6, 1999